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News and Notes from KidsPeace

The KidsPeace Academy at
Orchard Hills offers families an exceptional choice for placing children who
require structured, caring programming for emotional, behavioral and mental
health issues. Located on more than 260 wooded acres in the Lehigh Valley in
eastern Pennsylvania, the Academy balances a strong offering of treatment
options with a solid academic program and opportunities for youth to grow
intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.

A parent of a former student
of the KidsPeace Academy recently had some positive feedback to offer our
staff. The young man, whom we shall call Richard, was enrolled at the KidsPeace
Academy for more than 8 months and made enormous strides in controlling his
aggressiveness, impulsivity and defiant behaviors. Richard’s mother describes
her son as having difficulties since he was 18 months old and being on
medication and in psychotherapy from the time he was 4. As he grew older, the
family and therapists realized that it was not safe for Richard to be at home,
and, at age 12, he was admitted to a juvenile facility far from home that was
very strict and showed him how difficult and unfair life could be. His
continued defiance of authority made his life very unhappy at this facility as
he made no progress and could not earn any home visits. His parents missed him
so made the long trip to visit him every 6-8 weeks, which disrupted their
personal and professional lives.

“Richard learned that life
could be ugly if you don’t follow the rules,” according to Richard’s mother.
“He hated being there, but he needed a wake-up call to make him realize that
life can be unfair.” After several months, the family contacted the KidsPeace
Academy about admission. Once the Academy had accepted Richard, his family
immediately brought him to Orefield, PA, which was closer to home and a much
different environment.

“He liked it immediately,”
says Richard’s mother. The campus and facilities are clean and beautiful, and
he felt safe and secure there thanks to the structure and staff.” The KidsPeace
Academy has an entirely different approach to interacting with the students
enrolled there, Richard’s mother explains. “The staff is warm and flexible and
everyone works hard at developing relationships with the children there.”

Indeed, Richard was
happier at KidsPeace than anywhere else he had gone for treatment and
education. His mother was thrilled with the flexibility of the staff and
especially appreciative that they included Richard’s private psychiatrist on the
treatment team, allowing her long-standing understanding of him to help them
adjust his medications and tailor his therapy. “KidsPeace also welcomed my
husband and me as part of Richard’s treatment team and were in constant touch
with us. We visited weekly and were part of treatment planning sessions and
family therapy that was very helpful to all of us.”

Richard and his mother
agree that staff members at the KidsPeace Academy are caring and truly fond of
the teens in their care. They build relationships and are so involved that the
students want to succeed in part for their counselors. “And the rules at the
KidsPeace Academy are strict, but they are based on reason and responsibility,
and they are clearly spelled out and communicated. The students must meet
certain goals to progress, and they understand that,” Richard’s mother
explained.

Richard’s family was also
very pleasantly surprised that when Richard attained his goals and the parents
and private clinician felt that it was time for him to move on. The KidsPeace
Academy staff were just as accommodating in terms of arranging his discharge as
they were in getting him enrolled. “We were so impressed with the
professionalism and graciousness of all the KidsPeace Academy staff and how
they made Richard and his father and me feel. It was a positive experience all
the way around, and we are very grateful.”

To learn more about the
KidsPeace Academy at Orchard Hills, please visit our website or contact a Customer Relations
Representative at 610-799-8388, email TheAcademy@kidspeace.org or fill out the
KidsPeace Academy questionnaire.